Poll How Many Mental Health Care Professionals Did You See Before You Were Diagnosed ?

[Justmehere]

I saw three therapists very briefly (2-3 sessions each) before I finally admitted to anyone that I had trauma in my background and the severity of symptoms I was having. I went to them for "simple things" like insomnia, feeling anxiety, and stress over school. I kept thinking I needed to try harder and everything would be ok. Until it wasn't. Then I finally admitted how much I was struggling and was diagnosed with PTSD.

I saw two doctors before they agreed I had PTSD as well. I was good at hiding my symptoms without realizing I was doing that. They were good at throwing every other label at me like depression, generalized anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADD... Now I have only the diagnosis of PTSD and possible ADD.

 

[Ed Norton]

I'm not sure if I can count my hospitalization right after my trauma because, at that time there was nothing wrong with me. I will count my first T and psychiatrist; they blatantly ignored everything. The third time where I go now, although I was still misdiagnosed, they did diagnose me with ptsd. Later they rescinded the misdiagnosis after psychological testing. I put 1 because I don't count the first exact dealing with mental health unprofessionals as anything..plus at that time, I didn't have ptsd yet, some symptoms, yes but I wouldn't have met the criteria with respect to time and I didn't know that I had PTSD. I expected to recover as I had done with other traumas. After some time I realized something is very wrong but was ignored and dismissed.

 

[goingonhope]

This is a hard one to answer so I'm going to wait on actually voting due to the fact that I don't really remember and I have almost an obsession and fear to figure some things out before answering, with a goal of being nothing short of accurate and honest.

I'm also not sure that I understand the question. It's generally straightforward and simple questions that befuddle me, whereas more complex questions are easier for me to answer. :rolleyes: I can only imagine how ridiculous this sounds.

Anyhow, for some period of time or another, initial therapy consisted of family therapy where my sister and my abusers sat intimidatingly across from us, with my intimidating, obsessed and frequently psychotic step dad glaring at us - until I couldn't stand it anymore and turned my chair around to face the wall. This counseling did not last long as neither my sister nor I comprehended us being grossly abused and neglected.

And, thereafter our fear, anger and our such behavioral problems, being held exclusively accountable, with us to be ganged up on and tagged deficient while being blamed for their such abuses and neglect, as well as for our reactions to such dangerous and neglectful living for which we didn't know how to escape.

So at 13/14, under such circumstances, I was my more natural self and timid and meek, very shy, quiet and observant and lived often in my head. I told them nothing that would either later further threaten my life at home or possibly put me in a position where the psychologist or counselor would mistakenly believe my deceptive step-father or deluded mother. I don't really think that I believed I had the right, nor had the capability to speak honestly. I was riddled with fears and shame.

I don't recall the entirety nor outcome of any of this contact with that or those professionals.

The next help sought, I exclusively initiated, at 18 while attempting to find help for a most severe eating disorder that was so incredibly intolerable and out of control. The outcome of that was one, two or three visits of gathering information concerning the unmanage-ability of my eating disorder as well as insurance and this abruptly discontinued when my insurance didn't qualify and cover - after all.

 

[Poofycat]

My therapist says that I'm what those in the profession call a "good patient", meaning I give what I think are the correct, polite answers. So it took me finding someone I really liked and trusted, and who had the instinct to keep digging when I would put a roadblock, before I started letting things out. I liked my previous therapist who I was with for over 2 years, but I could just never get myself to fully open up to him while my depression and insomnia just kept getting worse.

 

[Crow]

Seeking help for over ten years before a pdoc actually took the time to listen and get to know me and not just throw toxic meds at me.

 

[Sandstone]

First professional I saw was Clinical Psychologist who diagnosed PTSD. Subsequently did test for sevearl oteh r conditions, with other professionals, but all were negative

 

[Lucycat]

I found this hard to answer.I saw nobody 'before ' I was diagnosed, but the first mental health professional I saw diagnosed me. There is no box for " nobody" so I put one .

 

[HoosierGal]

I went to a psychiatrist already knowing I had PTSD. He was able to see many of my symptoms and I could explain the others. He gave me the diagnosis and referred me to a therapist.

 

[Hush92]

My history with the mental health field has been complicated because my distrust/paranoia around the system and people did not help me be fully open about my experiences.

First official therapist I saw that wasn't my school psychologist told me I had symptoms as though I had experienced severe trauma. I was set up to speak with a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with a non-specific psychotic disorder and anxiety disorder. I hated that psychiatrist as she was very cold and didn't treat me like a human being. So I changed to a new one who gave me the same diagnosis. I liked her, but due to bizarre circumstances didn't get to see her long enough to the point where I felt comfortable talking about things related to my trauma.

My current therapist mentioned early on that she thinks I have depression with psychotic features and PTSD, but I have no idea what my formal diagnosis is at this point (and don't really care) or even if she is allowed to diagnose me. (She is certified to prescribe medicine, so maybe?) So that's my story.